held off

USAGE SUMMARY

"held off" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe an action of delaying or refraining from doing something. For example, "He held off making a decision until he had time to think it through properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He held off interpretation for now.

The New Yorker

The dragons held off Netflix.

The New York Times - Arts

Will Power held off Scott Dixon to win.

The New York Times - Sports

Federer held off Robin Soderling, 7-6 (2), 6-4.

The New York Times - Sports

But the heavy rain held off Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

She held off the aggressive Li – just.

The Guardian - Sport

However, Hammond has held off for now.

The Guardian

Initially, I held off looking at this.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For at least another game, stubbornness held off the parade.

The New York Times - Sports

Petkovic held off Maria Kirilenko of Russia in three sets.

The New York Times - Sports

Calhoun said as much Saturday after Connecticut held off Arizona.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "held off" to describe a deliberate action of delaying something, often to gain an advantage or prevent a negative outcome. For instance, "The company held off launching the product until market conditions improved."

Common error

Avoid using "held off" in passive constructions where it loses its active sense of deliberate delay. Instead of saying "The decision was held off," say "They held off the decision."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "held off" is as a phrasal verb, specifically the past tense of "hold off". It functions as a verb expressing the action of delaying, resisting, or preventing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Sports

10%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "held off" is a common and versatile phrasal verb indicating delay, resistance, or prevention, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's grammatically sound and most frequently found in news and media, as well as sports contexts. To use it effectively, maintain an active voice and avoid passive constructions to retain its impactful meaning. Remember that while alternatives exist, "held off" carries a nuance of active resistance that sets it apart. This analysis provides clear guidelines for confident and correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

staved off

Emphasizes averting something negative or undesirable.

kept at bay

Focuses on maintaining a distance from something threatening or undesirable.

fended off

Implies warding off an attack or unwanted advance.

fought off

Implies an active struggle to resist something.

resisted

Focuses on active opposition rather than simply delaying or preventing.

repelled

Suggests forceful pushing back, often in a military or defensive context.

prevented

Stresses the act of stopping something from happening.

withstood

Emphasizes enduring or resisting something difficult or challenging.

delayed

Highlights the postponement aspect.

postponed

Similar to delayed but suggests a more formal rescheduling.

FAQs

How can I use "held off" in a sentence?

You can use "held off" to indicate delaying an action or preventing something from happening. For example, "The team "held off" their opponents to win the game" or "She "held off" making a decision until she had all the facts".

What is a good alternative to "held off"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "delayed", "prevented", or "resisted". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was held off" instead of "held off"?

While grammatically possible, "was held off" (passive voice) changes the focus. It's better to use "held off" (active voice) when you want to emphasize the subject's action of delaying or preventing something. "Held off" is generally more direct and clear.

What's the difference between "held off" and "put off"?

"Held off" often implies a more active resistance or prevention, while "put off" generally means to postpone or delay. "Held off" suggests a stronger reason for the delay, such as resisting pressure or warding off an attack.